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Leah Walsh

After a holiday period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, numerous individuals head into January aiming to get their fitness back on track.

But, could Artificial Intelligence be transforming the world of exercise by offering an option to personal trainers?

Tailored Plans and Adaptable Timelines

Leah Walsh employed an AI tool for last-minute preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

This young woman from Aberdare explained she appreciated the freedom to ask it questions any time of day – something she felt was not possible with a traditional coach.

Leah used an AI-driven running app that gave her personalised plans with audio coaching and pace setting for her inaugural half marathon in 2024.

She said she asked it to design a plan combining running and the weight training, and it generated an 11-week plan customized to her race date and goals.

The user then adjusted the schedule to suit her lifestyle, which she described was convenient.

Subsequently, she chose a different tool because it was cheaper and she could consult it at any time. Her result was a full minute quicker than her target finish.

She said she did not want feeling pressure from a live instructor.

"Using artificial intelligence you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she added.

A weightlifter

Remarkable Fitness Gains

In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, in his twenties, from Swansea, has been employing AI for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has achieved peak strength, boosting his chest press from 70kg to 110kg.

He turned to a bot for help after being forced to walk a running event.

"I just knew I had to sort myself out," he said.

This no-cost application built a fitness and meal program personalized to his aims, and created organized workouts.

"I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he added.

The Expense Comparison: Technology vs. Traditional Training

One recent survey in the previous year compared costs for 17 of the biggest gym brands and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds a month, for basic full-access plans.

Fees ranged from a lower price at the cheapest chain to a premium rate at the highest-priced.

According to industry research, fitness coaches set their own rates, typically £30-£65 per hour-long appointment in most areas and about £45-£65 in the capital.

Customers typically use a coach one or two times a week and collaborate for a few months, however these arrangements are completely flexible.

Dafydd Judd

The Essential Human Element

Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, based in Cardiff, acknowledged AI can be useful to accelerate results, but believes it will never replace the human connection and responsibility that live training provides.

The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, focuses on older adults and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned some of his clients also employ AI.

"In my opinion it's very valuable, more knowledge is positive," he stated.

"I believe the more people are connected digitally the more they'll desire human connection because they want the empathy from the comprehension that is missing from a computer," he added.

Dafydd explained AI can educate users and make coaching more efficient.

But, he said real commitment comes when people appear physically for their sessions.

"No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a computer cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," he concluded.

For many, he said, the fitness center is a place to leave phones behind and stop being glued to screens.